WELCOME TO DARNALL FORUM'S COMMUNITY BLOG, with news and information about Darnall and the Forum. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter @darnallForum or subscribe to our RSS news feed by entering your email address in the window at the foot of this page.

Saturday, 3 April 2010

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals are looking for members of the community to join theteam of Trust Governors. Becoming a Governor is an exciting opportunity to support your local community by representing the needs and views of patients and the public. Governors work with the Board and have an active say in how our Hospital’s services are developed and how the organisation is managed. They represent the views of the 8,800 Sheffield public and patients who have registered to become a Member of the Trust.

The next Elections are coming up on 24 May and anyone who is interested in finding out more about this important role should contact Jane Pellegrina, Foundation Trust Membership Manager as soon as possible. Information and briefing sessions (details will be provided with nomination packs) are being provided but here are the answers to some frequently asked questions:

What is a Governor?

As a Governor you will play a very important role. You will act as a link between the Trust Members and the Board of Directors. You will have a number of key responsibilities, such as:

• helping to plan for the future

• ensuring the Trust is accountable to patients and local people

• recruiting and encouraging new members

• Influencing decisions by sitting on and contributing to various committees

An effective Governors’ Council is crucial to the success of the Trust and we will help you develop the skills you need to carry out your role as Governor.

What will myresponsibilities be asa Governor?

1. to bring new ideas about how services can be improved and provided in ways that meet the needs of patients

2. to discuss strategic plans and new developments

3. to share information about key decisions with other Trust Members

4. to represent the interests of Trust Members (other members of your local community)

5. to appoint the Chairman and Non-Executive Directors

6. to set the pay levels for the Chairman and Non-Executive Directors.

Will I get paid?

No, similar to a school governoryou do not receive a salary butyou are paid expenses.

Do I need any specialskills or experience?

You do not need any particular skills or experience but a passion for making NHS services better will help you enormously. The Governors elected will be supported by staff from within the Trust who are experienced in public involvement and communication. You will also be working alongside staff Governors and those appointed by the local councils, other parts of the NHS and the voluntary sector. The Governors meet regularly as a group and often work as a team.

How will the Elections be run?

We have appointed the Electoral Reform Service to run our elections for us. As well as making sure that we follow a robust process, it also means that the Elections are independent. We will give notice of an Election and invite any nominees (people who wish to stand as governors) to register their interest.

Anyone putting themselves forward will be asked to answer some simple questions. This information will be included on our website, and on the voting papers which are sent to all Members. Once the closing date is reached the votes are counted and we will then announce the results publicly.

Will support beavailable?

We are happy to discuss anytraining or support that youmay need to help you stand asa Governor, or to fulfil the roleshould you be elected.

How much time isneeded to fulfil the roleof a being a Governor?

A Governor is expected to attend the quarterly Governors’ Council Meetings (the expectation is that you will attend at least 3 out of 4) and the Annual General Meeting. All Meetings are held at the Hospitals. Time will also be required to read papers provided for each meeting. Apart from these minimum expectations, there are many opportunities to participate in committees, visits and other activities such as recruiting Members, all of which contribute

to making the Governor’s role useful and interesting. The amount of time a Governor spends in the role is entirely up to him/her and may only become clear after several months in post. Attendance at induction and training events will be required.

How long will myappointment last?

An appointment as a Governorwill be for a three year term upto a maximum of 2 terms.

Are there rules I have tofollow? How will I knowif I’m doing it right?

We will give you the trainingand support you need to be aneffective Governor.

If you are interested in finding out more please call Jane Pellegrina on

Links to other useful sites

How to join in

1) Follow us on Twitter @darnallforum2) To post a comment, click on the link beneath the post or previous comment to which you want to respond and write your message in the box.3) Complete the word recognition box, which is designed to stop spam.4) Then, if you have one, you can enter your Google username and password.5) Alternatively, you can click 'other' and enter your real name, or a nickname which you would like us to display, or you can click 'anonymous'.6) Then click 'Publish'. Your message will be sent to us for checking.7) We will know who you are but, if you have used a nickname or chosen to be anonymous, no one else will know.

Meet some of the staff

Left to right: Nazia, Neil, Shabana and Rahat

Our Chairperson

Mothiur Ra hman is the Forum's Chairperson

How our community team can help

Nazia, Neil and Zahira are the friendly voices on the end of the phone line when you call us and the people who deal with your visits, letters and emails.

They work closely with community groups and individuals who want to make a difference to Darnall. Nazia gives help and advice to people looking for work or training and is our adult community learning champion. Zahira runs various community development programmes.

We also have a team of adult community learning tutors who work closely with us. They help us run courses in IT, ESOL, employment skills, driving theory and other subjects.

If you want help with something which isn't listed here, and you live in Attercliffe, Darnall or Acres Hill, why not give us a ring anyway and we'll try to signpost you to the right place.

More about us

Darnall Forum’s day to day business is managed by a Board of local volunteers. Its vision statement is:

To create a listening space for the community, and

To work in partnership with other agencies and organisations to improve local services and help regenerate Darnall.

The Forum has four part-time staff who with local people to implement a Community Action Plan that was drawn-up after extensive consultation with all sections of the local community. The members of the Forum Board are drawn from the different faith and ethnic groups represented in the area and are elected by the members of the Forum at its AGM.

Darnall Forum is currently funded by Sheffield City Council, the European Social Fund and a small number of charitable trusts.

Darnall Forum also trades under the names D F Enterprise and Darnall Forum Trading, which reopened the community post office in 2010 and ran it for nearly eight years.

Consulting about our Community Action Plan

Here are the logos of some of the agencies which fund us.

The Main Aims of Darnall Forum are:

To create a forum where people can meet to raise issues of local concern, where the agenda is set by local people and where leadership and direction remain with local people.

To work together as women, men, young people, elders, black, white, disabled or able-bodies, of different faiths or none, recognising, respecting and valuing our differences.

To form links with key agencies and local enterprises in order to work in partnership with them, discuss their role in the area and – where necessary – challenge them.

To gather resources to support and deliver initiatives begun and supported by local people.

To ensure that there is a clear and agreed process by which the Forum makes and acts upon its decisions, and to ensure that the Forum Board is accountable to the membership.

Sheffield City Council Logo

What sort of organisation are we?

Darnall Forum is a voluntary sector organisation. It is a company limited by guarantee, (No. 03644311), and a registered charity (No. 1121396).

The Forum Board is made up of seven elected members of the Forum.

The Forum's charitable aims are urban regeneration and community development and community development.

European Social Fund

How to get in touch with us

T0114 249 0099Edarnallforum@gmail.com

Or you can write, or call in, to our offices at245 Main RoadDarnallSheffieldS9 4QD

Darnall Forum

Darnall Forum runs Darnall Post Office, provides employment advice and adult community learning, and brings together people who live and work in Darnall, Acres Hill and Attercliffe, a multi-faith and multicultural neighbourhood in Sheffield 9.